The NHL draft signals the birth of a new season. It’s a chance for teams to evaluate their roster and find players who will, one day, become major contributors to the team.
On Saturday, the champion Pittsburgh Penguins finally had a shot at finding some of those contributors. Despite not having a first-round pick Friday, the Penguins had five picks entering the draft, but they ended Saturday having drafted six players.
They got that extra pick through a trade; Winger Beau Bennett was sent to the New Jersey Devils for a third round pick.
“With the number of young guys we have, we felt it was time to give (Bennett) a change,” said general manager Jim Rutherford. “It gets a little bit frustrating, the injury part, and I certainly recognize he is a good player, and I think a change is going to be good for him and he’ll probably do well there.”
Aside from this trade, Pittsburgh didn’t make too much of a splash in their draft day. Although, the Penguins ended up picking a goalie with their first selection, a sign that Rutherford will move on from either goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt Murray within the year.
Here’s an overview of each pick made by the Penguins in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Filip Gustavsson, G, Round 2, Pick 55
With what may have been the biggest surprise (although, in hindsight, maybe not) in Pittsburgh’s 2016 draft class, the Penguins selected a goalie who has been thought of as the best netminder in Europe.
Filip Gustavsson, 18, has some issues over-committing to certain situations and will need several years of development in the Penguins system before he can realistically play in goal for Pittsburgh.
But, the good absolutely outweighs the bad. The Swedish native is a tall, positionally strong player, who is very smooth in transition from one side of the net to the other. He allows the play to come to him and can be aggressive at times. Gustavsson was a steal considering his upside and could be a major contributor in the future.
Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW, Round 2, Pick 61
Ranked 22nd among European skaters, Kasper Bjorkqvist has a good amount of speed, but he’s limited in his agility and skating ability. Bjorkqvist likes to shoot in tight spaces and is at his best around the crease. The majority of his scoring chances come from rebounds and grinds around the net, similarly to the style of play of Penguins’ current right winger Patric Hornqvist.
The Finnish native Bjorkvist may not develop much as an offensive weapon, but he was considered a huge asset on the penalty kill and when playing against tough opponents. His physical strength is his biggest weapon, and it adds to a trend of physical players in this year’s draft for the Penguins.
Connor Hall, D, Round 3, Pick 77
Connor Hall, a 6-foot-2 defensive defensemen played 39 games last season and had nine points (2 G, 7 A) and a plus/minus of plus seven. With this pick, Pittsburgh looks to get a bit tougher along the blue line. Hall uses his size to his advantage and plays a nasty and physical game. His ability to play one-one-one against the opposition’s forwards may have also been a big factor in Pittsburgh going after him.
However, his skate work and lack of offensive production are Hall’s biggest negatives, which aren’t unexpected for his role. If Hall should make it to the pros, he would most likely be a second or third liner with the duty of playing man-on-man or on a penalty kill pairing.
Ryan Jones, D, Round 4, Pick 121
The Crown Point, Indiana, native was selected in part because of his position, but also because of his offensive contributions from the blue line. This past season with the junior ice team Lincoln Stars, Jones tallied 30 points (3 G, 27 A), and he’s considered to be a great team player.
His fast feet and quick hands make him a threat at the top of the offensive zone, and he’s a very durable player. In fact, the 20-year-old, for the second-straight year, played all 60 games in his league.
Niclas Almari, D, Round 5, Pick 151
Niclas Almari had a bit of a rough season bouncing from team to team in the Finnish junior league, but he found his game once he finally settled down. Almari has been praised as an impressive skater and has great power in his stride. His natural ability to find open ice and position himself well was very attractive to the Penguins’ management.
While he may not have a “wow” factor — yet — his simplicity in play and tendency to take quick open shots could thrive under a Mike Sullivan-coached offense.
Fun fact: Almari and Bjorkqvist are not only from the same country (Finland) but are also from the same town and played in the same youth league.
Joe Masonius, D, Round 6, Pick 181
The product of the USA Hockey Team Development Program, Joe Masonius is a very simple defensemen. He’s considered by many to not have a single “great” trait but, instead, is thought of as a well-rounded player who can get the job done when called upon.
Masonius makes quick and simple decisions on ice and rarely shows hesitation. Considering that he was only a freshman at the University of Connecticut before being drafted by Pittsburgh, there’s likely a long development road ahead for Masonius. However, if he is able to become a late bloomer and be more than a depth player, he could, one day, find himself playing on pro ice.
Image credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America
